This problem is not a software engineering problem nor an AI problem but a problem of the balance of power between working hard vs. investing. If the people who believe in working hard organize and slow down the tendency to rig everything for investors, then the markets should stabilize at a more generally prosperous place.

> My concern would be whether creating that software pays enough to keep up with skyrocketing costs of living.

You might need to relocate to a place with much lower costs of living.

This was the idea behind remote working discussed during COVID-19 times:

- the company can pay less money because the employee is living at a much cheaper place than the expensive city where the company is located

- on the other hand, even with a smaller salary, the employee has more money at the end of the month because of the smaller costs of living

So both sides win.